hiser



' (No Model.)

' s. N. HISER. GASKET TOP FASTBNER. No. 495,412. gan med Apr. 1 1, 1893;

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v I? W, I g i 2 z qfl'Q/j/ ATTORNEYS,

WITNESSES.

i IUNITE TATTEST PATENT Fries.

. SHERMAN N. HISER, or SPRINGFIELD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR or TW O-THIRDS TO EDGAR N. LUPFER AND CHAS. H.HISER, OF SAME PLACE.

CASKET-TOP FASTEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming p of Letters Patent No. 495,412,.aatea-A ri1 11, 1893. Original application filed November 18. 1892, $61131 No. 452.398. Divided and this application filed December a, 1892. Serial No.

454,437. (No modeli) To all whom it may concern: s Be it known that I, SHERMAN N. HISER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Clark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Casket-Top Fasteners, of which the following is a specification. Y

My invention relates to devices for fasten-' ing the tops of burial caskets; the object of to my invention being to provide a simple device by means of which the tops of burial caskets willbe firmly secured in place against vertical, latteral or longitudinal movement, the construction of the device being suchthat the top may be readily detached when desired, while the fastener proper is concealed under the top or casket lid. This application being intended as a division of my pending application, Serial No. 452,398, filed N ovemzo ber 18, 1892.

My invention consists in the various constructions and combinations of parts hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved fastening device, shown detached, the parts being in the relative position which they occupy prior to engagement. Fig. 2 is a partialsectional elevation of the device in place on the casket showing the parts engaged so as to secure the top or lid. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the supporting plate and the spring catch lever thereon. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the same partly in section showing a modified 5 form of the spring.

Like parts are represented by similar letters of reference in the several views.

In said drawings a, represents the body of the casket, a, the lid or top thereof.

b is a supporting plate preferably cast in metal and provided near one end thereof with a slotted opening I).

c is a catch lever which is pivotally supported near its center in supporting bearings 5 on the plate 6. Said catch lever being provided at one end with a hook shaped catch 0', and at the opposite end with a lateral and downwardly proj ecting thumb piece; 0 which latter is adapted to lie under the projecting 5o edge of the casket lid and contiguous to the side of the casket when the lid is in place.

This catch lever c is preferably formed with lateral projecting trunnions 0 formed inte gral therewith and adapted to rest in cor're sponding open bearings 12 formed on the top of the supporting plate I), also integral therewith. A spring cl, secured at one end to the plate 5,,is adapted to bear against the catch lever 0, preferably in contact with an elevated lug' 0 formed on said catch lever, said spring being adapted to be secured at its opposite end to the plate b, by fastening lugs b formed integral with theplate b, and adapted to be bent down onto the spring and thus clamp the spring in place as shown in drawings. The

catch lever is curved downwardly and outwardly from a point near its supporting trunnions, so as to project through the slotted opening b, in plate b, and project outwardly and downwardly at anangle from said plate and below the same. The construction thus described constitutes one of the engaging parts of the fastening device and is adapted to be'secured to the casket lid. The opposing part consists essentially of a plate 6, having a suitable engaging opening 6, preferably at the end of the plate and an engaging lip or projection 6 for the hook shaped catch 0. This latter is preferably produced by forming an opening 6 in the plate, one side of 'which answers for the engaging lug or projection.

In operation the opposing parts of the fastening device are secured to the lid and sides of the casket body respectively as before specified-suitable recesses being formed in the lid and body to receive the projecting parts in the usual way and as shown. In securing the lid. or top in position, it is placed on the casket body with the downwardly 9o projecting end of the catch lever near the mouth of the opening e, in the plate. The lid is then slipped longitudinally causing the said lever to enter the opening 6', which is preferably formed V shaped or tapering. The parts are drawn to their proper relative positions as the lid is pushed firmly to its position, the hook shaped end of the catch lever engages with the lip or projection 6 and thus holds the parts firmly in their relalever being pivoted to the plate and projecting through the same, the respective parts, that is the lid plate and lever, engage on opposite sides of the catch plate and the tension of the spring causes the supporting plate and lever to be drawn firmly together and against the catch plate and yet permits a certain amount of yielding movement to compensate for any difierence in thickness of the materials used in lining the casket.

The device as thus described, it will be seen is extremely simple in its construction as well as in its operation. The trunnions being cast integral with the lever, and the open bearings integral with the stationary plates, the parts may be readily assembled with practically no fitting, while the arrangement of the spring is such that when it is secured in place all the parts are held together without other means of fastening, by constructing the hook shaped lever with a downwardly and outwardly projecting hook shaped end which passes below the supporting plate, the ordinary supporting spur is dispensed with. The hook lever itself forming at once the pro jection, which prevents lateral, vertical as well as longitudinal movement when in position in the catch plate 6.

In Fig. 4 I have shown a coil spring (1', placedon a projecting stud d, which passes through a perforation formed in the catch lever, one end of the-said spring being adapted to rest against the catch lever while the opposite end is held by a small pin d passing through said stud.

Having thnsdescribed my invention, I

1. A top fastener for caskets, consisting essentiall y of a supporting plate,a spring actuated catch lever pivoted to said plate near the middle of its length and adapted, at one end, to project downwardly and outwardly through said plate and provided at the opposite end with a lateral and downwardly extending thumb-piece, a catch plate having a lateral opening and an engaging lip or projection, said spring actuated catch lever being adapted to enter'the lateral opening in said catch plate and engage the lip or projection on the porting plate, substantially as specified.

2. In a casket top fastener, the combination with the supporting plate having the open bearings formed thereon and the slotted opening through said plate adjacent to said bearings, the spring actuated catch lever formed with engaging trunnions near the middle of the length thereof, curved downwardly and outwardly on one side of said trunnions and formed with a lateral and downwardly projecting thumb-piece on the other side of said trunnion, the curved portion of said lever being adapted to project through the opening in said plate, and the catch plate havingan engaging opening for said lever and the lip or projection adapted to. be engaged by the end of said lever which is formed hook-shaped for the purposes substantially specified.

3. In a casket top fastener a supporting plate. having open bearings cast thereon, a

catch lever with trunnions formed integral therewith and adapted to rest in said open bearings, said supporting plate beingperforated adjacent to said bearings to receive said catch lever whichnis curved downwardly and outwardly to pass through said plate, a spring for operating-said catch lever, said, spring bein g secured at one end to said plate and adapted at the other end to bear against said catch lever, substantially specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 5th day of December, A. D. 1892.

SHERMAN N. HISER. Witnesses:

PAULA. STALEY, O. O. SHEPHERD.

. opposite side of said catch plate from the sup- 

